Review

Tess Gerritsen gives chilling new meaning to the phrase "under the knife" in her latest thriller, THE SURGEON.

Dr.Catherine Cordell has created a new life for herself as a successful surgeon in a Boston hospital. Two years ago she was the sole survivor of a serial killer in Savannah, and only the knowledge that he is dead has allowed her to rebuild her life. But when two Boston women are found murdered in a similar pattern, Catherine finds herself confronting not only demons from her past but also facing off against a madman who has his sights set on his next victim…her.

One of the things that makes Gerritsen's novels so compelling is how she utilizes the knowledge she has gained fom her training as a doctor to help shape her characters. Catherine uses her medical skills to save lives. The killer, dubed "the surgeon" by the media, uses his knowledge to not only kill people but to inflict maximum pain on his victims.

Each horrific detail in THE SURGEON is laid out as precisely and starkly as the surgical implements on an operating table tray, and very little is left to the imagination. Even more chilling that the murders is the fear "the surgeon" inspires in Catherine. Readers will find themselves holding their breath as she approaches every doorway and closet door in her stark white apartment.

Make sure your doors are locked before you start reading this one. If the novel's end is any indication, this is one villain who just might make a repeat visit.